LG’s OLED TVs have been some of the best OLED TVs in the business, and the LG G4 was no exception. As one of the most popular high-end models of 2024, it impressed with its bright OLED panel, powerful processing, and sleek design.
At CES 2025 LG introduced the LG G5 (shown above at right, alongside the LG G4), promising even better brightness, smarter processing, and improved connectivity. But how much of a step up is it, and is it worth upgrading, both for LG G4 owners and others?
The LG G4 already delivers fantastic picture quality with its Micro Lens Array (MLA) panel and Alpha 11 processor, and the LG G5 takes things further with a brighter OLED panel, a new Alpha 11 AI Gen2 processor, and a smarter, AI-powered experience.
Anyone looking to get the best OLED TV is likely to have some cash to spend, and neither of these models is cheap. Fortunately, based on the announced European pricing for the G5 and other LG OLED models, pricing for the G5 looks to be in line with last year’s G4.
LG G5 vs LG G4 OLED: design and build
LG’s G-series OLED TVs have always had a premium, minimalist design, and that hasn’t changed with the LG G5. Like the LG G4, it’s built to sit flush against the wall with its sleek “Gallery” style, making it look more like a high-end piece of decor than a traditional TV.
The LG G4 was already impressively slim, with an almost bezel-free screen and a solid, high-quality finish. The LG G5 follows the same design philosophy, but LG has seemingly made some refinements to improve durability and heat management.
While these changes aren’t as flashy as a complete redesign, they should help with long-term performance and possibly increase longevity.
One thing to note is that LG only included a stand in the box for the 65- and 55-inch G4 models, and we expect the same for the G5. These TVs are designed primarily for wall mounting, and 77-inch and larger models come with a wall mount.
LG G5 vs LG G4 OLED: display, brightness, and picture quality
When the LG G4 launched, it set a new standard for OLED brightness thanks to its Micro Lens Array (MLA) panel, which helped improve light efficiency and peak brightness. Combined with LG’s Alpha 11 processor, it delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and excellent HDR performance.
The LG G4 was also praised for its dynamic tone mapping, which helped adjust brightness levels on a scene-by-scene basis to maintain realistic contrast.
With the LG G5, LG has taken a completely different approach. Instead of refining MLA tech, the G5 introduces a brand-new four-stack OLED panel design. This new structure allows for higher peak brightness (potentially up to 4,000 nits in future OLED models) without relying on MLA.
The shift to a four-stack design improves both efficiency and durability while maintaining OLED’s signature deep blacks and colour accuracy, meaning that while MLA improved brightness through optical layering, the G5’s new panel fundamentally changes how light is produced, leading to brighter highlights and better fullscreen brightness (a 40% improvement over the G4, according to LG).
Another change is the introduction of the Alpha 11 AI Gen2 processor. To be sure, the LG G4’s Alpha 11 chip already did a great job with AI upscaling and motion processing, but the Alpha 10 takes things a step further with better real-time adjustments for brightness, contrast, and detail enhancement.
Motion handling is another area where the LG G5 should make improvements. The G4 was already strong in this regard, especially for fast-moving sports and action scenes, but the G5 is expected to offer even smoother frame transitions and reduced motion blur.
For HDR formats, both the G4 and G5 support Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG (but not HDR10+), so there’s no difference in compatibility. However, with the improved panel brightness and processing, Dolby Vision content on the G5 should look slightly better, and there’s also a new Filmmaker Mode with Ambient Light Compensation that dynamically boosts gamma (the range between brightest white and darkest black) based on room lighting conditions.
LG G5 vs LG G4 OLED: smart features
LG’s webOS has been a major selling point for its OLED TVs, and the LG G4 shipped with webOS 24, which introduced a more personalised home screen, faster navigation, and better recommendations based on viewing habits.
It also features AI-driven picture and sound enhancements, a dedicated gaming dashboard, and seamless integration with smart assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa, all of which are nice to have.
The LG G5 builds on this with webOS 25, which is set to include more refined AI personalisation. LG has hinted at an improved user experience with faster load times, a cleaner interface, and multi-user profiles enabled by AI Voice ID, so different household members can have their own tailored recommendations.
Another big focus for the G5 is AI-powered content curation. While the G4 already suggested content based on watch history, the G5 takes this further by dynamically adjusting recommendations in real-time, taking into account trends, genres, and even the time of day.
For smart home integration, both TVs support Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Matter, so users can control smart devices directly from the TV. The G5 may improve responsiveness, but overall, both models offer a strong connected experience.
One potential advantage of the G5 is longer-term software support. LG has committed to up to four years of updates for its latest webOS versions, so buyers of the G5 will likely receive new features and optimisations for longer than those with the G4.
LG G5 vs LG G4 OLED: audio, gaming, and connectivity
Audio has always been something of a weak spot for ultra-thin OLED TVs, and the LG G4 was no exception, featuring virtual 11.1.2 surround sound, powered by AI Sound Pro, which attempted to simulate an immersive audio experience. While it worked reasonably well for casual viewing, most users still preferred pairing it with a soundbar for deeper bass and better spatial effects.
The LG G5 doesn’t drastically overhaul the audio hardware, but LG has hinted at improved speaker tuning and better virtual surround processing.
The G5 still supports Dolby Atmos, but with a more refined approach to sound placement, making dialogue clearer and action sequences feel more immersive. However, like the G4, it will likely still benefit from an external sound system for those who want truly cinematic audio.
On the gaming front, both the G4 and G5 are packed with features that make them ideal for PS5, Xbox Series X, and high-end PC gaming.
The G4 offers four HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 4K at 144Hz VRR with AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync and Dolby Vision gaming support. These features ensure smooth gameplay with minimal input lag, which was already impressive on the G4, and the new G5 bumps VRR support up to a 165Hz refresh rate.
One of the most significant new features of the G5 is wireless 4K video transmission. LG has introduced Zero Connect tech, allowing the TV to receive a wireless 4K signal from a separate hub, which means you can keep consoles and media players out of sight while still enjoying full-resolution and low-latency.
In terms of connectivity, both TVs support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.0.
LG G5 vs LG G4 OLED: Is it good value?
The LG G4 launched at a premium price, reflecting its status as one of the best OLED TVs of 2024. Over time, however, its price dropped, making it a great value for those looking for high-end picture quality without the latest features.
As of early 2025, it’s still one of the best OLED TVs available, especially when discounted (or even spread across multiple payments).
The LG G5, is expected to launch at a similar price as the G4 did originally. Our guestimation of the LG G5’s pricing is as follows:
OLED48G4: $2,299 / £1,799 / AU$3,599
OLED55G4: $2,599 / £2,399 / AU$4,199
OLED65G4: $3,399 / £3,299 / AU$5,299
OLED77G4: $4,599 / £4,490 / AU$7,999
OLED83G4: $6,499 / £7,000 / AU$9,999
OLED97G4: $24,999 / £24,999
If you already own an LG G4, the differences may not be significant enough to warrant an upgrade. But for first-time buyers looking for the best OLED experience, the G5 offers subtle but meaningful improvements that enhance both picture and usability.
Ultimately, if getting the absolute best OLED TV matters, the LG G5 is the smarter choice. But if you can find an LG G4 at a significant discount, it remains an outstanding option, delivering nearly the same level of performance at a lower price.
